Core-shell nanowire, method of forming core-shell nanowire, and stretchable composite comprising core-shell nanowire

Abstract

A core-shell nanowire, a method of forming the core-shell nanowire and a stretchable composite comprising the core-shell nanowire are provided. The core-shell nanowire comprises a core comprising a conductive metal and a shell comprising a biocompatible metal. The method of forming the core-shell nanowire comprises a step of forming a core-shell nanowire by carrying out epitaxial growth of a biocompatible metal on a surface of a core comprising a conductive metal. The stretchable composite comprises a first core-shell nanowire/polymer composite comprising first core-shell nanowires and a first polymer, a first insulating layer disposed on the first core-shell nanowire/polymer composite, and a second core-shell nanowire/polymer composite disposed on the first insulating layer and comprising second core-shell nanowires and a second polymer.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A stretchable composite comprising:
 a first core-shell nanowire/polymer composite comprising first core-shell nanowires dispersed in a first polymer; 
 a first insulating layer disposed on the first core-shell nanowire/polymer composite; and 
 a second core-shell nanowire/polymer composite disposed on the first insulating layer and comprising second core-shell nanowires dispersed in a second polymer, 
 wherein each of the first core-shell nanowires comprises a first core comprising a conductive metal and a first shell formed on the first core and comprising a biocompatible metal, 
 wherein each of the second core-shell nanowires comprises a second core comprising a conductive metal and a second shell formed on the second core and comprising a biocompatible metal, 
 and 
 wherein the first core-shell nanowire/polymer composite, the first insulating layer, and the second core-shell nanowire/polymer composite each have a mesh shape. 
 
     
     
       2. The stretchable composite of  claim 1 , wherein the first core and the second core comprise silver and the first shell and the second shell comprise gold. 
     
     
       3. The stretchable composite of  claim 1 , wherein the first polymer and the second polymer comprise polymer rubber. 
     
     
       4. The stretchable composite of  claim 3 , wherein the polymer rubber comprises SBS rubber. 
     
     
       5. The stretchable composite of  claim 1 , further comprising a second insulating layer disposed under the first core-shell nanowire/polymer composite and a third insulating layer disposed on the second core-shell nanowire/polymer composite,
 wherein the first insulating layer, the second insulating layer and the third insulating layer each comprise polymer rubber, and 
 wherein the second insulating layer and the third insulating layer each have a mesh shape. 
 
     
     
       6. The stretchable composite of  claim 1 , wherein the first core-shell nanowire/polymer composite is a first electrode layer including a first plurality of line electrodes, each of the first plurality of line electrodes being disposed under the first insulating layer and having a serpentine shape, and the second core-shell nanowire/polymer composite is a second electrode layer including a second plurality of line electrodes, each of the second plurality of line electrodes being disposed over the first insulating layer and having a serpentine shape.